Authorities to start monkey sterilisation while enclosure project remains incomplete

ARUN KASHYAP | Haridwar

With the monkeys posing problems to the public in Haridwar the municipal and Forest authorities are planning a sterilisation drive with tenders invited to catch the simians.

The Haridwar municipal commissioner Nandan Kumar said that the drive to catch the monkeys is expected to start next week. However, the construction of the monkey enclosure in Chidiyapur forest range of Haridwar has remained incomplete about five years after its foundation stone was laid. Rural Works Department (RWD) executive engineer Dinesh Kumar informed that the work on this enclosure was started in March 2021.

The construction of two large monkey enclosures under the project would cost Rs 4.96 crore. The Forest department has released Rs two crore so far while the remaining Rs 2.96 crore has been sought. The work will be resumed as soon as the money is made available, he said.

According to sources, the Forest department had initially released Rs two crore to the RWD. The departmental engineers revised the estimate following which the Forest department reportedly refused the release more funds. If sources are to be believed, the then junior engineer’s name has cropped up in the matter and he is currently being investigated by the Vigilance Establishment.

Haridwar divisional forest officer Vaibhav Kumar said that a third party probe of this project will be conducted. The remaining amount will be released to the RWD only after the State administration takes a decision in this matter, he added.